subs. (old).—1. An attempt to deceive or cajole: a DEAD-HEAVE = a flagrant attempt.
2. In pl. (American).—An attack of indigestion or vomiting.
Verb (American).—1. To vomit.
1862. C. F. BROWNE (‘Artemus Ward’), Artemus Ward: His Book. ‘Cruise of the Polly Ann.’ Stickin my hed out of the cabin window, I HEV.
2. (old).—To rob: has survived, in Shropshire, as a provincialism. The heler (hider) is as bad as the HEAVER = the receiver is as bad as the thief.
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, p. 66. To HEUE a bough, to robbe or rifle a boweth.
1575. AWDELEY, The Fraternitye of Vacabondes. But hys chiefest trade is to rob bowthes in a faire, or to pilfer ware from staules, which they cal HEAVING of the bowth.
1608. DEKKER, The Belman of London, in Wks. (GROSART) III., 102. But the end of their land-voiages is to rob Boothes at fayres, which they call HEAVING of the Booth.
1671. R. HEAD, The English Rogue, Pt. I., ch. xlv., p. 319 (1874). I met with an old comrade that had lately HEAV’D a Booth, Anglice broken open a Shop.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HEAVE a bough. To rob a house.
1724. E. COLES, English Dictionary, s.v.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). HEAVE (v.) … and in the Canting Language, it is to rob or steal from any person or thing.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
TO HEAVE ON (or AHEAD), verb. phr. (old).—To make haste; to press forward.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, I. iv. Come, HEAVE A-HEAD, my lads, be smart.
